Construction of incubators for infants



June 10,1952 B. c. GRIEB 2,600,240

CONSTRUCTION OF INCUBATORS FOR INFANTS Filed May 22, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET1 ATTORNEY.

Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED STATS rear oral-cs CONSTRUCTION OFINCUBATORS FOR INFAN Application May 22, 1948, Serial No. 28,603

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to incubator apparatus suitable for use forinfants such as those which are prematurely born or those requiringspecial care and isolation. The invention is particularly concerned withimprovements in the construction of such apparatus which increases theefiectiveness of the protection provided by such devices.

Apparatus of this nature which incorporates all of the equipment andcontrols desirable for providing effective isolation, adequatetemperature and humidity control, proper handling equipment and thelike, has heretofore been extremely complicated, expensive tomanufacture and awkward to handle. Consequently such equipment hasusually provided only the more urgent safeguards.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide anincubator construction which is capable of being used in a number ofdifferent ways and which permits even the most rigorous isolation.

In order to provide an incubator construction which is compact andeasily handled while at the same time includes all the equipment neededto give complete control of the air supplied and means to allow fullisolation, the present invention provides for an incubator assemblyhaving two main components. In one of these components the mechanicaland electrical equipment for circulating and conditioning the air or gasfor the incubator is located. The other compo-- nent is the occupantschamber which is chiefly structural in nature. By separating theapparatus from the isolation space the manufacture and assembly aregreatly simplified.

In the present invention it is an object to provide a relatively shallowbase unit arranged to contain the various operating and controlmechanisms in a compact and orderly arrangement which allowsstep-by-step assembly and installation operations. Such constructionalso obviously simplifies service and repair work.

' An important object of the invention is to provide complete indicatingand warningapparatus for indicating proper functioning of the circu=lating system and operation'of the heating de-' closure. Medicaments orthe like may also be added to the air supply in a manner similar to theaddition of oxygen.

Apparatus of this nature may be used under many different circumstances.For example, an isolation unit of the present type may be located in ahospital room so that a new infant may be kept with its mother whilebeing protected from any undesirable contact. The more usual method ofusing is for a number of incubator units tobe kept together in a nurseryunder the care of an attendant. In some instances it may be desirable tosupply an incubator for each infant with the object of preventingepidemics. 'Under various conditions of use it is desirable that theoccupant of the incubator be readily observed from any angle. For thispurpose the present invention provides an unusually clear View ofthemterior of the occupants space because of the manufacture of theupper portion of the unit from transparent material.

Usually the patient is left in the incubator for extended periods whenisolation is desired. Since complete care may be administered while theinfant remains inside the enclosure there is no need for removing andthus causing exposure to airborne infection or change in environment.The present construction which permits insertion from the bottom of theenclosure has certain advantages in addition to simplified structurel Inprevious constructions having a lid at the'top, opening of the lid forinsertion of a patient permitted the loss of a considerable amount ofheated air from the incubator. With the present construction the heatedand conditioned 'air is entrapped in the enclosure during opening sothat little time is required to return the inside air to the desiredcondition after insertion of a patient.

A. further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus whichallows improved control over the humidity both during the circulation ofair while the heater is in use or when no heat is being applied. 7 s

It is realized that the present apparatus in== eludes general featuresdisclosed in prior patcuts, for example, Patent 2,243,999, issued June3, 1941, to Charles C. Chapple. The detail features herein disclosed aredirected'toward improvements which are intended to simplifyconstruction, reduce cost, increase safety and provide an incubator ofincreased versatility and usefulness 'lihe manner in which the foregoingand other ob ects and advantages associated with the present inventionare accomplished will be clearfrom 3 the following description of thedrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an incubatorincorporating the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig.1 with the enclosure in open position.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the base unit of the present apparatus havingthe lid removed to show the interior arrangement.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3,the front face of the box being removed for purposes of disclosing theinterior arrangement.

Figure 5 is a sectional View tion of arrows 5-5 of Fig. 3. 7

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the access door.

Figure '7 is a sectional view through one of'tlie portholes showing themanner of attachment of the sleeves.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the incubator unitconsists primarily of the transparent box or dome Ill and the lower baseunit I I'. The enclosure dome I is hinged along one edge by a piano typehinge I2 to permit opening in the fashion clearly illustrated in Fig.'2. Opening in this manner allows access directly iatlth'e mattresslevel and simplifies the operation of placing an infant in or removingit from the incubator. Links I3 are pivotally connected to the dome I0and the base II the fashion illustrated to provide for retention of thecover unit in the open position.

H In order to separate the base chamber fro'm the occupants space a lidplate I4 which is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and '4 isprovided.

The lid I4 is supported on angle members I around the upper edge of thebase box II. The lid I4 forms the floor of the o'ccup'ants space. A lowsheet metal wall I6 is attached to'the fioor I4 in a fashion to providefor proper positioning of a suitable mattress IT. A separate plate 'ortray I8 is located to fit underneath the mattress II. Plate I8incorporates a turned-clown flange I9 which may be used to retain'thetray I8 in a "slightly inclined position when thelip I 9 is placed overthe edge of the wall I6 as illustrated in Fig. 4. This arrangementpermits either a flat or inclined position for the mattress I'l, thuspoint to use the inclined position'for'either raisor lowering the headof the infant in relation to its body. The angle "20 attached to the*lid I4 positions the tray I8 and the mattress I1 in endwise direction.

The hinge I2 which connects the "enclosure II! to the base unit I I,being of the piano type is "readily disconnected by removal of the hingewire which is preferably made in two pieces for ease in removal of theenclosure II! from the base 'I I. A tight joint to prevent the escape ofair gardens the bottom of the enclosure is'assured by thesoft gasketI511 on which the enclosure rests.

Rapid separation of the enclosure'from the base is-of considerableadvantage both during manufacture of the incubator and during servicingor cleaning of the various parts.

While the apparatus of the present invention may provide for thecomplete conditioning of "the air or gas supply to the occupant it willbe seen that all of the apparatus and 'controlsre- -quired for thispurpose are completely housed in arrest. the airee- 7 4 V the base unitII. Reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 will disclose the details of theconditioning and circulating apparatus. The electrical equipment iscontained chiefly in the chamber 2I. Chamber 2I is entirely separatedfrom the interior of the base box II by means of the walls of the box 2Iand its lid which is securely fastened on by screws 22, there beingincorporated a suitable scaling gasket. The lid is thus readilyremovable for purposesof inspection and repair. Enclosed within the box2I are the fan motor 23, the transformer 24 and such other electricalequipment as the operating relays, alarm buzzer, etc. The electricallead wire 25 is used to supply the current for operating the incubator.Oil cup 26 supplies the lubrication for the motor. Provision is made forthe circulation of air from outside the unit through the back wall andbottom of the base II to the electrical box 2| in order to give adequateventilation for the electrical compartment. as by louvers 2 l a. e I

, Blower fan 21 is driven by the motor 23 and provides for thecirculation of air or gas inthe incubator. A tube 28 leads tothecenter-of the blower unit 27 and provides the intake for the blower.Thus, the recirculated air from the unit is sucked in through tube 28into theblower-and forced through the unit, New air is; supplied bymeans of a connecting fitting 29 to which a hose 30 may be attachedleading to a'source of fresh air preferably from outside the building. Asecond fitting BI incorporating a pet-cock valve is attached to fitting29 and provides a means whereby oxygen. or other gas'or medicament mayed inside the intake tube 28 so that all of the circulated air may beheated prior to circulation by the blower .fan 21. The heater isprovided with automatic controls which will be described later.

The blowerfan 2'! forces the air through outlet tube 36 through a valveunit 37. The control handle 38 projects outside the. front of the baseunit. Valve 37 lsarranged to'permit the air from the blower 21 to bedirected either through the tube 39 or'through the humidifier chamberM3. The valve 37, while it need notbe considered here in detail, is soconstructed that any proportion of the air being circulated may bedirected through the humidifier chamber '40. Thus, accurate control ofthe humidification may be maintained since all of the air may bedirected through thehumidifying chamber or only that portion of theairrequired. for adding a small amount of moisture when such. a conditionisdesired. The humidifier chamber 40 has an external connection II whichprovides for filling the humidifier chamber fromoutside the base unit.Filler '4I also includes a sightgauge so that the amount of water in thehumidifier is visible at all times. The humidifier chamber preferablyincorporates a special sponge unit over which the airstream'may bepassed, thus providing for a large 'evaporation'surface to giveeffective humidiflcation without the need'for' application of heat tothe humidifier unit. This sponge arrangement also assures equivalentcapacity for humidifying action even when the water level is low. Afterpassing through the humidifier unit 40 or the by-pass tube 39 the airpasses out through delivery box 42 which is located in one corner of thebase unit ll directly underneath the openings 43 in the floor plate l4.Openings 43 are clearly indicated in Fig. 1. A circular hole or opening39a in the upper surface of by-pass 39 permits the air passing throughthe by-pass to enter the delivery box or duct 42.

The circulated gas isthus forced into the occupants space by the blowerthrough the grille openings 43 and removed from the occupants spacethrough the grille 44 at the opposite end of the incubator. The returnair is drawn into the base unit where it is recirculated by means of theintake 28 to the blower. In order to provide for evacuation of aquantity of gas equal to the volume of fresh air added to the circulatedair through the intake 29, a small opening 45 is provided in theenclosure unit I0. In the present arrangement this opening 45 is locatedin the access door 46.

The details of the access door are more clearly illustrated in Fig. 6where it will be seen that the door 46 is provided with a hinge 46a. anda latch 46b, thus ermitting opening the access door for insertion andremoval of various articles. Access door 46 is located near the bottomend of the mattress and is sufficiently large that articles to be usedfor feeding and caring for the occupant may be easily inserted andplaced upon the floor l4 in the space provided between angle and theenclosure. From this position the attendant may reach the articlesthrough the portholes 41 in which the sleeves 48 are mounted.

The portholes and sleeves are illustrated more clearly in Fig. '7, whereit will be observed that the long, flexible sleeves 48 are provided withan elastic ring 49 which causes each sleeve 48 to fit snugly around theattendants wrist thereby preventing the air from the room from enteringthe occupants space. In this fashion only the sterilized hands of theattendant come in contact with the air inside the enclosure. The use offlexible protective sleeves of this general nature is not in itself new.However, it will be noted that the portholes 41 are provided with anout.- wardly projecting rim in which a groove 53 is provided. An elasticring 5| holds the end of the sleeve 46 in position in the groove 50,thus providing for quick but positive attachment or detachment of thesleeve 48. Sleeves 48 are preferably made from a transparent,lightweight, flexible, plastic material. This sleeve construction andmethod of attachment permit replacement to be easily made in case ofdamage. Also fresh sleeves may be provided at the time the incubatorunit is cleaned or sterilized after each occupants use in preparationfor the next patient. It will be noted thatsleeve 48 when not being usedby the attendant may be easily folded as indicated at 48a to act as aseal to close opening 41. In some cases it may be desirable to addanother pair of openings 41 with sleeves in the opposite wall ofenclosure I0 as indicated in dotted outline. The present incubatorconstruction lends itself readily to the adding of such. A

6. described apositive air pressure is produced at all times in theoccupants space due to the fact that the pressure side of the blower isconnectedby means of closed channels directly to the openings 43 to theoccupants chamber. This is of considerable advantage since any leakagfrom the enclosure is from the inside to the outside thus preventingroom air which may be contaminated from entering the occupants space.This arrangement also permits opening the access door 46 Without dangerof room air entering occupants space since the flow during this briefperiod of opening will be from the inside of the dome unit it to theoutside. In order to provide an indication that a positive pressur isbeing maintained at all times an indicator device is mounted at theopening 45 in the access door. Here a small. flexible diaphragm 52 issupported with one end covering the hole 53 in door 45 and the other endbeing retained by the rim of the opening 45. Passage of air outwardlythrough opening 53 causes a continual vibration or flutter of thediaphragm 52 which is readily noticeable by an observer. Should thepressure-inside the dome be lower than the room air the diaphragm 52.moves to close the opening 53 and is stationary.

Diaphragm 52 is preferably made of a flexible, bright-colored, plasticsheet arranged to b easily visible. This diaphragm thus forms a simple,reliable means of indicating that a supply of fresh air is being addedto the circulationsystem. There is one operation which may produce amomentary suction action within th enclosure. This occurs duringwithdrawal of the sleeves if an attendant removes his hands rapidly. Theresultant reduction in pressure causes the flutter valve 52 to be drawnagainst opening 53, thus closing it to prevent room air from being drawnin. As a result the suction causes a temporary increase in the amount offresh air drawn into the system.

When room temperature conditions are such that cooling of the air in theoccupants space is desirabl this is accomplished by the use of an icechamber. The ice chamber 54 consists of a metal box mounted inside thebase box II and preferably raised above the floor of the base box inorder to permit the circulation of air over all surfaces of the iceunit, thus providing a maximum of radiation surface. The ice chamber 54is provided with a lid 55 which may be attached in a fashion tocompletely seal the ice chamber from air leakage. It will be noted thatbelow the return air opening 44 a small channel or duct 56 (see Fig. 4)is provided to conduct the air downwardly to below the upper surface ofthe ice chamber. In this way the return air is delivered from theoccupants space to the base unit chamber at a point where it willcirculate in all directions over the ice box including the top and thebottom, in finding its way back to the blower intake 28. Effectivecooling is thus provided.

The ice chamber may be loaded with ice cubes through the ice chute 51which is located at the front of the base unit I I. Ice chute 5'! isprovided with a hinged lid 53. A drain pet-cock 59 permits draining oifthe water formed during th melting I of the ice. The capacity of the icechamber is suflicient to provide several hours cooling with one loadingfor room temperature of to degrees F. I

In the return air duct 56 there is located a thermostat unit 60 whichcontrols the operation of the air heater 35. Thermostat 60 may beadjusted to control the temperatureiof the circuan outlet opening topermit air to pass there-- through, and an airflow indicator supportednear said outlet opening.

4. Incubator apparatus suitable for infants having an enclosed base unitcontaining gas circulating, heating and humidifying equipment, acompartment inside said base unit and sealed therefrom, said compartmentcontaining an electric motor and other electrical apparatus and havingremovable means to provide access to said compartment.

5. Incubator apparatus suitable for infants having an enclosed base unitcontaining equipment for circulating, heating and humidifying gasincluding a blower-fan, a humidifier unit through which gas from theblower-fan may be passed before reaching the occupants space, by-passmeans and valve means whereby any proportion of gas flowing from saidblower-fan may be passed through said humidifier unit.

6. Incubator apparatus suitable for infants having a unit for housingcirculating and conditioning equipment, said unit incorporating a blowerdevice for circulating the gas, an enclosed duct running from thepressure side of said device to an opening into the occupants chamber, areturn air opening between the occupants chamber and the base unitarranged to permit the return air to flow through at least a portion ofsaid base unit to said blower device, intake opening structure for saidblower device including an inlet from said base unit, and an inlet fromoutside said base unit whereby fresh outside air may be supplied to theair circulated by said blower device, an enclosed heating unit locatedin said intake structure in a position to heat both the recirculated airand the fresh air drawn from outside.

7. An incubator construction for infants having an occupants chamber,bed means including a low wall structure to locate a mattress, amattress tray having a flanged end and being adapted to lie inside saidretaining wall or to be supported with said flanged end on saidretaining wall to provide for either a flat or an inclined position ofthe mattress.

8. Incubator apparatus for infants including a separate unit containingcirculating and heating equipment, an enclosed occupants chamber, asurface structure between said unit and said chamber having an inletopening between said unit and said chamber for directing air into saidchamber, an outlet opening for withdrawing air from said chamber, anelectrical heating device associated with said circulating equipment, athermostat for controlling said device located at the outlet opening inthe path of the circulated air stream.

9. An incubator unit for infants having an occupants chamber, saidchamber having an Opening to allow insertion of an attendants arm, anexternal flange around said opening having an annular groove therein, asleeve of thin flexible material having one end arranged to fit oversaid flange, a resilient ring adapted to fit in said annular groove andretain the end of said sleeve in intimate engagement therewith.

10. Infant incubator apparatus having an isolation compartment and amachinery compartment in communication therewith, a blower in themachinery compartment to circulate a current of air through bothcompartments in series, a power unit for said blower, and a housing forsaid power unit constructed to isolate the atmosphere about said powerunit from the current of air passing through said compartments.

11. Infant incubator apparatus comprising a base unit enclosing airconditioning and circulating apparatus, a removable occupants enclosureunit fitted on said base unit, yieldable material sealing the juncturebetween said units, a fresh air intake to said base unit and filtermeans in said intake; a stale air exhaust from said enclosure unit,having a uniflow valve to prevent ingress of air.

12. Infant incubator apparatus havin an enclosed occupants compartmentand a separate base unit containing equipment for the circulation,humidification and heating of gas, including a blower fan, a humidifierunit through which gas from the blower fan may be passed immediatelybefore reaching the occupants space, a bypass duct and a control valveto permit the proportioning of the amount of gas flowing through saidhumidifier unit and a heater device inserted in the system at a point towarm the gas before it reaches the humidifier unit.

B. CURTIS GRIEB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,185,711 Reyniers Jan. 2, 19402,219,185 Hirleman Oct. 22, 1940 2,243,999 Chapple June 3, 19412,246,820 Taylor June 24, 1941 2,347,326 Kirschbaum Apr. 25, 19442,353,536 Abbott et al. July 11, 1944 2,366,630 Kreiselman Jan. 2, 1945

